Festool CT MIDI I HEPA Bluetooth Dust Extractor // Unboxing & First Impressions

Let's take a look at one of Festool's newest Bluetooth-enabled dust extractors, the CT MIDI I HEPA. This is a small, but mighty dust extractor with a lot of great features and excellent build quality. In this video, I'll show you what comes with it in the box and go through the initial setup.
In future videos, I'll take a look at compatibility with non-Festool tools and offer a complete review (after a couple of months of use).
CHAPTERS:
0:00​ Introduction
1:15 Unboxing and overview
3:38 Front of dust extractor
5:06 Systainer latches
5:28 HEPA filter
6:18 Inside the dust extractor
9:20 Anti-static hose
12:34 Hose compatibility with Ridgid vac
13:25 Power cord wrap
14:59 Turning it on and connecting to DeWalt track saw
16:24 Final thoughts
To buy the Festool CT MIDI look for Festool-authorized dealers near you or available online in your country. Like many Festool products, the CT MIDI is not easy to find in stock and I was lucky to get mine from Elite Tools, here: www.elitetools.ca/en/product/....
For more details on the Festool CT MIDI I HEPA Bluetooth Dust Extractor, check out the official product page here: www.festoolusa.com/products/d...
Please note that this video is not sponsored by any of the brands in the video and all products have been purchased with my own money.
#festool #ctmidi #dustextractor #powertools​​ #woodworking​​

[@julianweiser9985]

I recommend to deburr some of the plastic where the hose is stored. It tends to pull out some strings from the fabric over the years.

[@Foxholeatheist]

Thanks for the video! I was going back and forth between the Midi and the CT26, and you've helped me decide on the Midi.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Glad it helped! I’ve been really happy with the MIDI and have no regrets with my decision.

[@B15SDMDESIGNS]

Those reusable zip ties are a lot easier to open if you feed the tail end back through the hole and pull it through. It will come open very easily.

[@ejicon3099]

Great, straightforward review. Thank you.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching!

[@csimet]

Nice overview. A couple things... I noticed others say the clamping system for the sustainer on top is compatible with Makita sustainers, a nice touch. Especially with my plans to pair this up with my Makita track saw. The cord is extra heavy to allow tools to be powered through the front receptacle... 1200W, on top of the extractor requirements (400-1200W). A great option.

[@MarriedManWoodworking]

Wow!!! Nice!!! you are getting some really nice tools. Congrats!!! Your videos are killing it. Keep it up!!! I will share this on FaceBook and Twitter.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thank you for the comment and for sharing! Lots of tool and shop videos so far (and more coming), but once the weather settles a bit more here in Ontario there will be some project videos. Might need to find a way to make a Canadian flag out of wood like you did with USA!

[@timfowler4901]

I have the older Festool 33 vacuum with a boom arm and the older Midi vacuum. Love them both. Mr Fowler

[@diycentral]

Sweet purchase! I highly recommend the remote Bluetooth switch. I reach for the vac for typical cleanup so much more because of the convenience that switch provides.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Definitely on my list! Given that I don’t have any Bluetooth-enabled Festool tools, I think it’ll be a convenient addition.

[@Jeremy_810]

That little switch is the exact reason this dust extractor is on my short list. Bluetooth compatible with any brand tool when the remote is on the end of the hose. It's so simple, it's brilliant.

[@julianweiser9985]

@@MasonWoodshop Got the remote too... Now the vac feels very incomplete without it.

[@terrij3978]

This was really helpful; thank you!

[@lmallard3788]

I had one of those rigid vacs. I replaced it with a Fein turbo 4 that was much quieter than the Rigid. But I equipped a dust deputy with my Fein and it became cumbersome to move around the shop. I think the Fein is a bit louder than the Festool ct midi. And the Ct midi rolls around much better than my Fein, even before I added the dust deputy. (Which is attached to a Harbor Freight dolly.)

[@enhancehomeimprovementstoo1802]

Great video and great instructions. I will now be buying this version. How you like yours so far

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching! It continues to be my most used tool in the shop and has held up extremely well. I ended up adding the Festool Cyclone separator after a couple of years and I’m glad I did, albeit being very expensive.

[@GregsWorkshopOregon]

Debating between getting the Milwaukee track saw or the MIDI and keeping my Kreg saw. Starting to lean towards the MIDI, thank you for the video!

[@MasonWoodshop]

It’s been an amazing addition to my shop since I posted this video and I’m glad I got it when I did.

[@ChristopherCotter1]

Great video, thanks so much! How did you get on with adaptors? I have full dewalt platform, saws, routers, drills etc. Did you find many adaptors?

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching and for the comment! I put out two videos soon after showing compatibility with a variety of tools, including a handful of DeWalt. Hope these help! Testing fit with multiple tools: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYrHdXmsbr-Errs Testing fit (w/ adapter) on DeWalt sander: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2LHeGh4ZciVlc0

[@ibitaRaptor]

I caught the festool bug and got this unit as well. I hope you do a video on the best accessories or adapters to have since owning this unit for over a year. Since I also plan to use it with none festool tools.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching, I think you'll be very happy with your purchase! Funny enough, I have a video for (hopefully) exactly what you're asking: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYrHdXmsbr-Errs

[@12982blackjack]

I just found your channel, I've been lusting over one of these dust extractors. How does it compare sound wise to your Ridgid shop vac? I hate how loud the normal shop vacs are.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching! It’s definitely quieter than the Ridgid shop vac, even on full suction. The ability to adjust the level of suction also helps to further decrease the noise. It’s by no means quiet, but certainly better than the Ridgid.

[@chrissd08]

I just got one of these. The directions are horrible, you made it very obvious(head slap) how to install the dust bag! Thanks!!

[@MasonWoodshop]

Happy I could help!!

[@DRV_Woodworks]

Thanks for vid. About to buy the ct midi I. Curious about how the dust collection on a sliding or chop saw is? If anyone here uses it for that purpose as well.Thanks

[@EbikeReviews]

Someone's been shopping! Nice.

[@MasonWoodshop]

It's been on my list for a long time, so I'm excited to have it in the shop! Now it's time to take some of your advice and get to some projects to help fund my winter additions.

[@EbikeReviews]

@@MasonWoodshop I have been real slow on the projects the last couple of weeks. I got bogged down with one Table project, then it went a little South and we had some other things come up.. so I haven't done any projects. But I have been using this time to knock out a lot of other videos I have been wanting to get done. I'll be back at it soon.

[@MasonWoodshop]

@@EbikeReviews For me it’s been waiting for the weather to consistently be above freezing. I’ve been spending the time getting the shop set up and some new tools ready to roll! I’ll check out your project videos for some tips on how to film them.

[@N-1951]

Does anyone know of an adapter to connect the 27 mm hose to 1 1/4” attachments that work on most other vacs?

[@lmallard3788]

I had intended to buy a larger capacity extractor and the separator, but the sales person said he uses the midi for his track saw without a separator and has been using it for 3 years with the original dust bag and the dust bag is not full, but packed with the consistency of a brick. I bought the brushless 5” sander too and I wonder why I didnt buy the set up before getting allergies from other sanders

[@MasonWoodshop]

Wow, original dust bag for that long is wild! Not sure how he’s dealing with a lost of suction as I find when mine gets about 80% full the suction starts to suffer. I recently just bought the separator (video soon) to help with bag management.

[@rw7532]

Does the end of the festool hose that connects to a tool swivel. Very good video btw.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Yup! The end does swivel nicely.

[@war3405]

Hi there, Do you think I can use that for sanding new plaster or drywall or painted walls time to time ?

[@MasonWoodshop]

Absolutely you could! All depends on what you’re attaching to the end.

[@willspencer3044]

Great video. Thank you. In the manual it lists the length i.e. from front to back at 475mm. Do you know if that takes into account the rail that holds the power cord? Do you know the length from the front of the unit to the back of the power cord rail? Thanks.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Thanks for watching! I just checked the total length (including power cord wrap) and it's ~530mm. Looks like their 475mm did not include that.

[@willspencer3044]

@@MasonWoodshop Thank you very much for doing that. I wanted to store it in a cupboard when not in use but the cupboard is only 500 deep. I saw this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJjElpqbo5qjjqs and the presenter seems to suggest he can store the power cable in the hose garage with the anti-static hose. I am in lockdown for the next 7 days (in Melbourne, Australia) so I will check out that option in the tool store next week. But it is good to have the info you gave me as I work things out. Cheers.

[@MasonWoodshop]

@@willspencer3044 Ah yes, that makes sense! The power cable wrap can be removed to bring it down to that 475mm and you should be able to fit it all in the hose garage if needed. This extractor is my first and while I haven't produced a review yet, it's easily one of the most used tools I've ever owned and something that's made me much more aware of the fine dust my tools produce. The Bluetooth remote was an absolutely awesome addition to it!

[@willspencer3044]

@@MasonWoodshop That's good if you think the power cable and the hose will all fit in the garage. It looks like there is a groove in the back of the machine that you can feed the cord through so as to still close the lid if you put the cable in the garage. Your help is much appreciated.

[@MasonWoodshop]

Glad I could help! You’re right that there’s a groove specifically to run the power cord through and into the garage.

[@julianweiser9985]

There is a new cordless version but it only runs 12min on max with 4Ah batteries... Corded all the way.

[@MackR1_]

How do you switch it back to vacuum mode from blower mode?

[@MasonWoodshop]

Swapping between vac and blower is just as easy and changing the port the hose goes into.

[@julianweiser9985]

You gotta be careful though, the stuff that's still in the hose will be in the air afterwards.

[@synthesaurus]

5 bucks per bag? I need a link ! :)

[@Ashton351]

Could you do me a big favor? Specifcally, what two warranty cards did you receive? I only got one, and I don't trust my vendor. My other Festool order didn't come in original packaging.

[@MasonWoodshop]

No problem! My MIDI came with a warranty card which contained two numbers used for warranty registration online (T Nr and S Nr) - I wasn’t able to find these numbers on the vac itself (it should be there slmewhere), but with all of my other Festool tools bought since then, the numbers are on the Systainer, the warranty card, and tool itself. I have heard that some dealers in certain parts of the world take care of the warranty registration, but here in Canada (and purchasing various Festool from three different dealers), that isn’t the case.

[@Ashton351]

@@MasonWoodshop Thanks for the details, I appreciate it!

[@N-1951]

Doesn’t it come with any attachments or nozzles?

[@MasonWoodshop]

Unfortunately not. Just the hose and a filter bag. I didn’t find the couple of attachments I bought initially too expensive, but after a year I bought the 36mm hose kit which came with duplicates of the attachments I bought.

[@N-1951]

@@MasonWoodshop did you have problems with the standard hose clogging up?

[@MasonWoodshop]

@@N-1951 Only when I connect it to larger tools such as my SawStop Compact table saw - that's the main reason I bought the 36mm hose and I'd say there's a slightly noticeable difference.

[@duartepaintinghandymanservices]

Its a $659 vacuum this guy makes it sounds like is thousands of dollars

[@MrJamesdefreitas]

Sorry for some of us that's a lot of money.

[@duartepaintinghandymanservices]

@@MrJamesdefreitas start with a dewalt and when business is good get better equipment

[@julianweiser9985]

Here in Germany, its 400€ with remote here.

[@duartepaintinghandymanservices]

@@julianweiser9985 ofcourse it is, it's a german product